On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 16:57:40 GMT, Dave Heil
wrote:

Leo wrote:

snip

I think you're right, Dave - the text of the US reciprocal agreement
refers to the country of citizenship of the foreign amateur, not the
country of residence. Our reciprocal agreement simply requires a US
license, and makes no mention of the citizenship of the amateur.

Wonder why it's called a reciprocal agreement when it isn't quite
reciprocal?

That's an easy one: Canada's radio amateurs may operate in the United
States without passing a U.S. license exam. U.S. radio amateurs may
operate in Canada without passing a Canadian license exam.

That part makes sense - it's the citizenship wording with respect to
the license holder on one side of the agreement which doesn't exist on
the other side that puzzles me.


During my second assignment to Helsinki (three years), the Finns wanted
me to pass a Finnish exam and use an OH2--- callsign because it was
their belief that reciprocal operation was intended only for short
duration.
They kindly backed off when I pointed out that no such thing was
outlined in their regs. I was OH2/K8MN for that entire period. ITU
recommendations changed between my first tour in Finland and my second.
For the first, I was K8MN/OH2. One eastern european amateur began
giving me hell over the air in the 1980's for not using "OH2/K8MN" after
those recommendations came out. I told him that I couldn't very well
use a call other than the one issued on my Finnish license.

Now that would have been an interesting place to work Europe from.
You were lucky to have had that opportunity, Dave - I wouldn't mind
trying that!


Dave K8MN

73, Leo